The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-22
The HON. SCHOOSMAKER
ONI VI TIE INTERSTATE con-
MIsSI0NEKs,
Gives al Interesting Description Of
the thrift, Enterp Use and Pros.
periiy OF the Susny South.

Ing interview WIN Jne non. hu-
gustus Schoonmaker, Interstate
Commerce Commissioner, on Tues
day, the result OF which is here
with appended. The reporter was
detailed to interview the judge and
get from him an account of his re-
cent Southern trip with the Com
mission, together with any comments
which he might see fit to make upon
the industry and prosperity Of that
portion of the country. Judge
Schoonmaker received the reporter
very eourteously. and, in answer to
questions, gave the following account
Of the trip:
The Commission, the Judge said,
left Washington on Monday, April
25th, for Atlanta, Ga. Between
these two cities they passed through
Charlottesville, the seat Of the Uni
yersity Of Virginia, which institution
was founded by Thomas Jefferson.
1t is 10 the immediate vicinity Of
Monticello, the residence of Jeffer-
son, and where he was buried.
The Commission arrived at At
lanta on Tuesday at l;30 o'clock
pm, central time, an hour later than
Casters time, the hour in the latter
section OF The country being 2:3O
o'clock pm. Hearings were given
that afternoon and the whole of the
next day. The attendance of repre-
sentatives OF the railroad interests,
Of Boards Of Trade, of Chambers of
Commerce, and Of business men feel
ing an interest in the proceedings,
was very large. The place Of meet
ing and the hotels we're all crowded.
Atlanta, Judge Schoonmaker said
is handsome city. 1t contains many
expensive and imposing buildings
aud is the scat of wonderful enter
prise and business prosperity. Many
men who went there IN poverty not
more than dozen years ago, have
accumulated large fortunes, some
amounting 10 hundreds of thousands
of dollars and some reaching mil
lions. Some Of the streets of Atlanta
are particularly beautiful. The city
is on an elevation OF about 11C0 feet
above tidewater, and by means of ar
tesian wells is we'll supplied with
pure water. A very great variety OF
manufacturing industries is carried
on in the city. 1t is the residence Of
United States Senator Joseph II.
Brown, who is man Of great wealth.
II 10 alse the residence of ex-Gov.
Bullock, who was a native OF the
State Of New York, and Of many
other citizens. The Atlanta Consti-
htion, which is regarded as the lead
ing newspaper in the South, is pub
lished in this city.
The Commission arrived at Mobile
at p m. on Friday, and had hear
ing that afternoon and again on Sat
urday. A great deal of testimony
was also taken there, and the attend
Anse, by representatives. of similar
interests TO those represented at At.
lanta, was again large. At this place
Representatives of the Birmingham
interests and industries appeared,
and most interesting account was
given OF the development and growth
Of the various mining and manuiac-
turing industries of that place.
Mobile itself, the judge said, is
not in as Furnishing condition as it
has been in the past The business
men there attribute this fact to the
giving Of through bills of ladiDg by
railroads for Southern produce to
points at the East and abroad, in
stead of sending them first to Mobile
for shipment elsewhere, as was for
merly the case. The city is pleas
autly situated on Mobile bay,
but it's location is low aud the eli
mate rather warm. Like other
Southern cities, Mobile has its
Board of Trade aud its Chamber
of Commerce, and the inhabitants
are ambitious to make their city a
great shipping port. 1t is the term
nus OF the Mobile and Ohio railroad
of which William Butler Duncan, a
well known New Yorker, is presi-
dent, who was in attendance at the
hearing before the Commission. The
Louisville and Nashville road also
passes through Mobile. The pro.
ducts chiefly exported from Alabams
are cotton, tobacco, lumber, cottage
furniture, and the vast mineral pro
duets OF coal and iron at Birming.
ham and ITS vicinity, The quaint
ties of pig iron shipped from Biz.
mingham are enormous, and the pro
dueers there are competing success
fully with the producers aud ship
pers of the same articles in Pennsyl
vauia, New York, Michigan and a
other Northern points,
On Saturday afternoon the Com
mission left Mobile for New Orleanl
over the Louisville and Mobile road
which runs in sight of the gulf the
whole distance, and the journey is
most delightful one. The residenc,
OF Jefferson Davis is along the line
Of this road, and was pleasantly 10
Gated in beautiful grove upon tn,
gull. This was the property given t
him by a wealthy Southern lady
Many portions of this road are bull
on piles and trestles crossing inlet
from the gulf. Formerly the pile
for these trestles we're soon destroyed
by worm that would penetrate tn,
wood and make it necessary TO re
place the structure frequently, but
few years ago a Northern man in
ven ed preparation of creosote will
which the wood is now covered AM
it is said to be a perfect protection
against the worm.
The Commission arrived at New
Orleans at 8 clock pm. on Satur
day and stopped at the famous 81
Charles hotel, which is massiv
building, with many hugo pillars
presenting an imposing appearance
Early Sunday morning all OF tn
Commissioners went to the FrencI
market, which strangers are Away
recommended to visit. Ii is certain
ly curious aud bewildering place
and a great variety OF language an
dialect is heard there. AT the hou
for church service some Of the Com
m;,sioners went TO hear the Rev. Dl
Palmer, the famous Presbyteria
preacher of the South. He is a mos
able. eloquent and imprisoned ora